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Mayonnaise Jar & Two Beers

When things in your life seem almosttoo much to handle, when 24 hoursin a day are not enough,remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 Beers. A professor stood before hisphilosophy class and hadsome items in front of him.When the class began, he wordlesslypicked up a very large and emptymayonnaise jar and proceeded tofill it with golf balls.He then asked the students if the jar was full.They agreed that it was.. The professor then picked up a box ofpebbles and poured theminto the jar. He shook the jar lightly.The pebbles rolled into theopen areas between the golf balls.He then asked the studentsagain if the jar was full.They agreed it was. The professor next picked up a boxof sand and poured it into the jar.Of course, the sand filled up everything else.He asked once more if the jar was full.The students responded with a unanimous ‘yes.’ The professor then producedtwo Beers from under the tableand poured the entire contentsinto the jar effectively fillingthe empty space between the sand.The students laughed.. ‘Now,’ said the professor as thelaughter subsided,‘I want you to recognize thatthis jar represents your life.The golf balls are the important things—your family, your children, your health,your friends and your favorite passions—and if everything else was lost andonly they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other thingsthat matter like your job, your house and your car.. The sand is everything else—the small stuff.‘If you put the sand into the jar first,’he continued, ‘there is no roomfor the pebbles or the golf balls.The same goes for life.If you spend all your time andenergy on the small stuff you will never have room for thethings that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.Spend time with your children.Spend time with your parents.Visit with grandparents.Take time to get medical checkups.Take your spouse out to dinner.Play another 18..There will always be time toclean the house and fix the disposal.Take care of the golf balls first—the things that really matter.Set your priorities.The rest is just sand.One of the students raised her handand inquired what the Beer represented.The professor smiled and said, ‘I’m glad you asked.’ The Beer just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem,there’s always room for a coupleof Beers with a friend.